Intermittent Fasting Explained

Intermittent fasting is rapidly becoming the new fad to weight loss and health improvement. It is a meal plan where food is eaten in set periods only while fasting in the other times. Note that the meal plan does not describe the types of food to it but rather when they should be eaten. Several Intermittent fasting meal plans divide a day or a week into eating periods and fasting periods. For instance, you can avoid breakfast; have early lunch and early dinner while not consuming anything in between. Although the meal plan may appear hard to follow, a lot of people who have adopted it have revealed improvements in energy and overall performance throughout the day. Note that, consuming supplements are not prohibited but they must not contain any calories.

Why Intermittent Fasting?

Humans have a long history of fasting either due to religious practices or simply non – availability of food. As a result, the phenomenon is not new to our bodies and they are entirely capable of adapting to it. Bodily processes alter drastically during non – eating periods which reduce blood sugar levels, increases growth hormone secretions and helps lose weight. A few studies have also shown that intermittent fasting help expand lifespan mainly due to restriction in calorie intakes. Apart from general longevity, the fasting plan also protects us from diseases such as cancers, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. In short, the fewer meals you have with control, the longer will be your life.

What Are The Different Methods Of Intermittent Fasting?

A lot of innovations and methods have emerged in Intermittent Fasting over the years of its prominence. Let us have look at the most popular ones:

16/8 Method: In this plan you are required to fast for 16 hours and have only early lunch and dinner at 8pm.

Eat – Stop – Eat Method: Do a 24 hour fast once or twice a week, that is, from dinner to dinner.

The 5:2 Diet: Consume only 500 – 600 calories for 2 days a week.

The 16 / 8 method is the most popular plan taken up by people trying out this diet mainly due to its easy implementation. At the end of the day, it is all about consistency to the rules of the plan that can bring the best results.